Touring musical 'Shrek' a winner in Chicago
"Shrek the Musical" had an abbreviated 441-performance Broadway run that didn't live up to expectations. But as evidenced by the newly revamped touring production that officially opened Sunday at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre, "Shrek the Musical" looks likely to have a much happier ending on the road.
Not having seen the 2008 Broadway incarnation, I can't fully detail all the tweaks and fine-tuning made on this screen-to-stage musical adaptation of the hit 2001 animated film. But what's currently on display definitely makes clear that "Shrek the Musical" delivers loads of family-friendly fun.
Both the DreamWorks film franchise and William Steig's original children's book irreverently tweaked traditional fairy tales and elements of Disney animated features. "Shrek the Musical" carries on the tradition with an extra dose of musical theater parody.
Die-hard musical fans will easily spot riffs in composer Jeanine Tesori and playwright/lyricist David Lindsay-Abaire's eclectic pop score that make jabs at other shows like "Wicked," "Sweet Charity" and "Dreamgirls" (particularly in actress Carrie Compere's sassy new Dragon song "Forever" which replaces the inferior number "Donkey Pot Pie").
The spoofing spans to "Shrek's" staging, too. Co-directors Jason Moore and Rob Ashford (the latter specially brought aboard to launch this tour) also take comic swipes at iconic stage visuals like the Act I finale of "Les Miserables," the many puppets of "The Lion King" and the transformation scene in "Beauty and the Beast."
And though clearly inspired by the work of choreographer Bob Fosse, choreographer Josh Prince spins a clever Pied Piper and rat-filled take on the traditional top-hat-and-tails production tap number "Morning Person" which dazzlingly opens Act II.
Taking his cues from the "Shrek" films and Steig's book, production designer Tim Hatley has outdone himself with the sleekly sliding fairy tale sets, gorgeous Tony Award-winning costumes and a parade of playful puppets throughout. Hatley's four-man-operated flying and winking Dragon puppet is an unforgettable highlight, as is his hilarious get up complete with miniature legs and a long cape for the short-stature villain Lord Farquaad (it puts the preening full-size actor David F.M. Vaughn down on his knees throughout).
Carol Stream native Eric Petersen uses his soulful blue eyes and fine singing voice to expert effect to reveal the humanity inside the standoffish title ogre (and that's beneath all his layers of ogre prosthetics and green make up).
Helping out Petersen's emotional journey as Shrek is Alan Mingo, Jr.'s street wise and soul-singing Donkey (who wins a majority of the show's laughs) and Haven Burton's strong-willed and strongly sung take on the impatient Princess Fiona.
While a few fairy tale characters have been cut or replaced from the ensemble of "Shrek the Musical" (no more Humpty Dumpty or White Rabbit), there are still plenty of standouts. Aymee Garcia's double take as the Mama Bear and voice of the Gingerbread Man, Gingy, is loads of fun. Blakely Slaybaugh also gets to pull lots of focus as scratchily voiced Pinocchio.
Amid all the silliness, "Shrek the Musical" does carry an important message about finding true beauty from within and how being different can be good. Yet with the constant spoofing and overeager attempts at humor, these messages can be easily overshadowed.
As a corporate crowd pleaser that is working overtime to entertain the whole family, "Shrek the Musical" definitely impresses. Yet if you want to find a musical in Chicago this summer that will emotionally move you, it's probably best to look elsewhere.
"Shrek the Musical"Location: Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.comShowtimes: Performance schedule varies, but majority of performances are 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays, 2 p.m. Wednesdays; through Sept. 5.Running time: Two hours and 15 minutes with intermissionTickets: $25-$90Parking: Nearby pay garagesRating: For general audiencesFalse512332The Dragon (sung by Carrie Compere) wants to keep Donkey (Alan Mingo, Jr.) in her castle in the song "Forever" in the new national tour of "Shrek the Musical," currently playing at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago. False